American Civilisation Notes (S2)

1) Building (Seizing) the American Empire

● During the 19th century, Americans prioritised domestic issues(politics, industry, westward
expansion ), limiting their interest in foreign affairs where isolation prevailed after the Civil War.
● As industrialisation grew, there was a greater demand for raw materials from other countries.
American businesses started exporting more goods, which led to a need for naval protection of trade
routes and places for ships to refuel.
● For these reasons, the United States began expanding its military beyond the Western Hemisphere
in the late 19th century.
Toward the New Imperialism:
●In the late 1800s, European countries started aggressively expanding their empires in Africa and
Asia.
●They took control of land, created colonies, and focused on exploiting resources, asserting their
racial superiority, and spreading Christianity.
●1902 British economist J.A. Hobson stated that imperialism was the dominant force shaping
Western politics.
A/Imperialism in the Global Context:
●The New Imperialism was driven by the Second Industrial Revolution's production surge, Western
nations sought new markets for goods and raw materials.
●Fueled by nationalism, the European powers including the U.S. competed, using military force and
political manipulation to expand more territories in Africa and Asia during the late 19th century.
● Spreading Christianity served as a tool for cultural subjugation and colonial control, often leading to
the loss of indigenous traditions.
●There was a shift from valuing freedom and independence to seeking power and domination.
B/American Imperialists:
●As European nations acquired territories, the US began its own expansion, driven by influential
figures like Senators Beveridge and Lodge, and leaders like Roosevelt and Mahan.
●Naval Captain Mahan argued for national greatness through naval power, requiring a strong navy,
merchant marine, trade, colonies, and bases.
●He advocated "American destiny" to control the Caribbean by building a channel to connect it with
the Pacific and spreading Western civilisation.
●However, Mahan’s influential ideas and writings were embraced by Roosevelt, the assistant
secretary of the navy
●Before Mahan's writings gained influence, the navy had already started to expand. In 1880, the
nation had less than 100 seagoing vessels, many decaying vessels. However, by 1896, eleven new
battleships had been constructed or approved.
C/ Imperialist Theory:
●Westerners used Darwin's theory to claim racial superiority and justify conquest, where
imperialism was portrayed as natural selection among nations, benefiting "superior" races
●Figures like John Fiske argued Anglo-Saxons were destined to dominate due to innate superiority.
●Josiah Strong tied this "destiny" to Christian missionaries where Anglo-Saxons were seen as
divinely chosen to "uplift" inferior races.
Expansion in the Pacific:
●Expansionists like Josiah Strong saw Asia as a lucrative market for American goods.
●Secretary of State William H. Seward believed that it was essential for the U.S. to dominate the
Pacific region. He wanted to eliminate foreign competition and secure access to valuable ports.
●Motivations: Expanding markets for American goods and access to valuable ports.
●Target: British Columbia, strategically located between Alaska and Washington Territory.
A/ Samoa:
●In 1878, the Samoans and the U.S. signed a treaty that allowed the Americans to have a naval base
in Pago Pago and gave them legal autonomy in Samoa. The treaty also included trade benefits and
stated that the US would help resolve conflicts with other nations.
●Germany and Britain sought similar agreements with other Samoan islands.
●The Outbreak of the Civil War in 1887 led to a power struggle among Western powers.
Consequently, the Berlin Peace Conference was held in 1889 to establish a joint
German-British-American protectorate.
B/Hawaii:
●In Hawaii, the presence of American missionaries and planters allowed the U.S. to have more
opportunities to take advantage of the islands.
● The kingdom signed a trade agreement with the US in 1875, which increased sugar production and
the emergence of an American elite in Hawaii.
●The white planters benefited from cheap labour from Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese immigrants.
By the 1890s, the native population had been significantly reduced due to diseases, making Asians
the majority in Hawaii.
●In 1885, President Grover Cleveland referred to Hawaii as an important gateway for Pacific trade.
However, in 1890, the McKinley Tariff negatively impacted Hawaii's sugar trade, causing economic
and political turmoil.
● The king's sister attempted to regain control of the government in 1891, but the white population
revolted and took power, with the help of American marines. The new government then sought
annexation to the U.S.
●American planters orchestrated a coup in Hawaii to benefit their interests. However, their
attempts to annex Hawaii were thwarted by Democratic senators and President Cleveland, who
withdrew the treaty.
●President Cleveland suggested restoring the queen in return for the revolutionists’ amnesty, but the
provisional government refused, declaring the islands the Republic of Hawaii with a provision for
American annexation in 1894.
● President McKinley wanted to annex Hawaii and used the pretext of Japanese warships approaching
to send U.S. warships and request Senate approval.
● When the Senate couldn't approve the annexation treaty, McKinley used a joint resolution of the
House and Senate to annex Hawaii in 1898.
The Spanish-American War :
A/The War of 1898:
 ●Until the 1890s, the United States hesitated to expand its overseas possessions. However, in
1898-99, this hesitation disappeared and the US aggressively expanded into the Pacific. This sudden
change was not motivated by the desire for bases or trade, but rather by a sense of anger towards
another country's imperialism.
1)” Cuba Libre”:
●Cuba's fight for independence from Spain in the late 19th century involved several uprisings met
with harsh Spanish suppression.
●While Cuba was a crucial colony for Spain's exports, the U.S. had growing economic interests in Cuba
(sugar, mining) and trade surpassed Spain's.
●The 1895 rebellion stemmed from Cuban discontent with Spanish rule, worsened by economic issues
like the Wilson-Gorman Tariff.
● Cuban rebels engaged in guerrilla warfare against Spanish forces, targeting economic infrastructure
to attract American investor attention.
●General Weyler's harsh measures against Cubans led to earning a bad reputation promoted by
negative press in the US, which fueled public outrage in the US.
●The Cleveland administration initially focused on protecting American interests through mediation;
surreptitiously, it increased the public support for Cuban rebels which led Congress to support their
cause in 1896
●President Cleveland's efforts at diplomacy with Spain, including a rejected offer of limited Cuban
self-governance, ultimately failed.
2)Pressure for Power:
●McKinley, upon becoming president in 1897, initially supported neutrality, he pushed for Cuban
independence and American involvement in Hawaii, as well as a canal connecting the Caribbean and
Pacific.
●Cuba's rejection of Spanish autonomy in 1897 intensified the conflict.
●USS Maine’s sinking in Havana harbour in 1898 sparked public outrage fueled by the "Yellow Press,"
which blamed Spain without concrete evidence.
●Public outrage, fueled by media and figures like Theodore Roosevelt, pressured McKinley towards
war despite his initial caution.
●Spain proposed compromises such as a ceasefire, granting autonomy to Cuba, and agreeing to
arbitration for the "Maine" incident, but the strong domestic pressure and public sentiment
prevented a peaceful settlement from being achieved.
3)Manila:
●The Spanish-American War, lasting only 114 days, marked the emergence of the United States as a
world power; however, the conflict ended Spain's New World empire and led to the U.S. liberating
Spain's colonies, including Cuba and the Philippines.
●The victory in Manila Bay, led by Commodore George Dewey, showcased American naval strength
and strategic foresight. The U.S. involvement in the Philippines, following the war with Spain,
created long-lasting issues and led to the American occupation of Manila.
4)The Cubian Compaign :
●In Cuba, the U.S. blockaded the Spanish navy at Santiago, while American troops, led by Lieutenant
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and including the Rough Riders, engaged in land battles that weakened
Spanish resistance.
●The battles at El Caney and San Juan Hill revealed American military strength, particularly
Roosevelt's leadership skills.
●The rapid end of the Cuban campaign and the victory in Manila created a powerful global position for
the U.S. despite the challenges and duties of being a new colonial power.
B/The Debate over Annexation:
●President McKinley's decision to annex the Philippines can be seen as a combination of seeking
national pride, and economic benefits and also a belief in racial superiority to civilise Filipinos
●Under the Treaty of Paris 1898, The U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from
Spain in exchange for $20 million in compensation.
●Opponents of the treaty: the Anti-Imperialist League, supported self-government for Filipinos;
additionally, they were concerned about defending distant territories and foreign entanglements
●Moreover, the anti-imperialists feared integrating a large, culturally different population.
●In 1899, the treaty was narrowly approved with the help of W.J. Bryan, a populist Democrat. This
led to a conflict in the Philippines where American troops fought against Filipino rebels, resulting in a
long and deadly war.
●The issue of imperialism sparked debate in the US, with influential figures criticizing the nation's
imperialist goals as a betrayal of its fundamental principles.
C/Organising the acquisition:

Territory The U.S. Acts The content Outcomes

Philippines * Senator Beveridge advocated US military rule ended

for permanent US control. in 1901, followed by a
* Judge Taft established a civil government.
government with Filipino
participation. The Philippines gained
independence in 1946.
The Jones Act (1917) * promised eventual
independence, achieved in 1946.

Peurto Rico The Foraker Act *established a civil government. Puerto Rico became a
(1900) * US citizenship was granted to commonwealth with its
residents in 1917. own constitution in
1952.

Cuba The Platt Amendment *restricted Cuba's sovereignty, Cuba faced challenges
(1901) allowing US intervention and a to stability with US
naval base at Guantanamo Bay. interventions.